Art Made Easy

You probably know someone just like today's guest. Someone who is passionate, dedicated, creative, and organized. She's the gale that takes on everything and does it so well. You may even find that she reminds you of YOU.

Ashley Bruce is our Sparkler Spotlight for September. Ashley started her own art business in San Diego, California and visits local schools to help start and support art programs.

We chat about how her business started and how it impacted her life then and now. And because she is a featured Sparkler, Ashley turns the table on a typical episode to ask me questions. And this is where is gets good.

I'm pretty passionate about a few things when it comes to teaching art and running a business. Can you guess what some of them might be?

Ashley and I go deep on valuing your time, yourself and art. If you've been hired to start an art program in your school, you'll find Ashley's experience, ideas and resilience inspiring.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- Ashley's very first steps in starting her school's art program

- What Ashley's goals for the program were and how it's affected the classroom teachers at her school

- How to develop from a volunteer to a paid position

- What significant mindset shifts Ashley had to make when it came to charging what she's worth

- How to structure your business to impact all of your students

- How to successfully balance your family time with work

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

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Download my free Art Teacher's Toolkit PDF by clicking the yellow box below. Enter your name and email and we’ll send it to you!

LINKS & RESOURCES:

The Sparkler's Club Waitlist

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

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If there is one thing I know for sure, it's that you can't teach art unless you have some sort of management plan in place. Art is really exciting for kids and often you'll have eager students ready to create art, but it's also very common to experience predictable issues like these:

- Talkative students

- Disruptive or disrespectful students

- Students who refuse to work

- Absent or continually tardy students

- Loud of out-of-control behaviors

Doesn't matter what type of teacher you are: one who values organization and control or one who values connection, fun and chaos. Everyone experiences one or more of the above.

To manage the amount of frequency of the above behaviors, it’s all about setting expectations, establishing a flow and being consistent. This episode of Art Made Easy, is a recording of my featured presentation at one of my in-person art teacher workshops in Santa Barbara. Besides making art, I really wanted teachers to walk away with a few management nuggets.

In this episode, you’re going to hear my approach to engaging with kids and how I use a positive mindset to create a safe, inspiring and efficient class.

If you are a member of The Sparklers Club, the video for this presentation plus handouts, extra management video tutorials and worksheets are available under TRAININGS. Plus, you get a certificate for 1 Clock Hour.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

- The purpose of creating a management mindset

- The time in your schedule when you have the most influence on your students

- How to set your expectations for your students

- When remaining neutral works to your advantage

- My secret strategy: The Ten Minute Rule

- What can happen when you truly engage a child with art

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Interested in more classroom management tips?

Listen to: Art Made Easy # 053 6 Factors for a Successful Management Plan

Listen to: Art Made Easy Easy Classroom Management Tips for Creating Your Dream Class with Michael Linsin

Classroom Management for Art, Music, and Pre Teachers by Michael Linsin

Pre-Order Patty's new book Draw, Paint, Sparkle Publication Date August 21

The Sparkler's Club Waitlist

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

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What is the ONE thing you want most this school year?

A healthier lifestyle? More money? A more organized classroom? While I can't claim to hold the secret to achieving these things, I can share the one secret that I know will transform your school year...if only you stay open to it.

The biggest impact for me, in both my personal and business life, has been asking for help. Knowing when my desires were too big to do alone or that my obsession with doing it all wasn't working anymore, wasn't all that easy to figure out.

Asking and accepting help runs deep. I see the resistance everywhere: in my family, friends, business friends and especially art teachers. We think we are meant to do it all.

But I think there is a better way and in this episode, I share my journey of when I started saying yes to getting help and the impact it has had.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

- The one thing that holds many people back

- How to get clear about what you're saying 'no' to

- Why getting help early on was so critical for me in my own journey as an entrepreneur

- What happens when you give yourself permission to not always be good at everything

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Pre-Order Patty's new book Draw, Paint, Sparkle Publication Date August 21

The Sparkler's Club Waitlist

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

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While on vacation this month in Canada, I have had lots of time to reflect on what is working in my life and what needs adjusting.

I identified a few things that are an absolute must for living a healthy, inspiring and productive life.

This podcast takes a deep dive into morning routines, the essentials of inspiration (including how I cultivate mine) and the hard facts of aging well.

I can’t wait to hear how and where you find inspiration, if you have a morning routine and how you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

THINGS YOU’LL DISCOVER: 

Why a morning routine is so important and what I do that energizes me for the day 

How my own morning routine has evolved over time 

How you can learn to become efficient with a full schedule

Why having systems is essential for the creative thought process

What you can do to incorporate inspiration into your daily life and “feed your brain”

Why I recommend taking care of your body and all-around wellness

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Pre-Order Patty's new book Draw, Paint, Sparkle Publication Date August 21

www.monday.com (Software Patty’s team uses)

Circe by Madeline Miller

Educate by Tara Westover 

Goddesses Never Age by Dr. Christiane Northrup

The Body Book by Cameron Diaz

The Sparkler's Club Waitlist

Connecting with children through art is an essential ingredient in the success and longevity of artist, Jill Hatcher. Jill teaches children ages 4-12 in a public school, does after school art classes and hosts private classes in her home. And she doesn't hold a teaching degree! It's hard to imagine where she finds the energy until you meet her. Jill is enthusiastic, warm and loves connecting with both her students and fellow teachers.

We spotlight Jill in our Sparkle magazine and asked her to share her story on Art Made Easy.

This episode is for anyone who is not a credentialed teacher and wants to learn how others went from artist to art teacher.

Patty answers a few of Jill's questions including an explanation of how Team Sparkle creates, designs and structures The Sparklers Club library of art lessons and what big things are in the pipeline for Deep Space Sparkle.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- How Jill made her way into teaching art organically

- The ways her experience has differed from teaching in the school system to teaching at home

- What she says were the biggest struggles she's faced in her career teaching art

- How Jill handles her classroom management

- Where Jill's own creativity and inspiration comes from

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES:

The Sparkler's Club Waitlist

Art Stories from Around the World - China: AME 057

Art Stories from Around the World - Bahrain: AME 058

Teaching Art in a Remote Village in Northern India: AME 059

Manifesting Your Ultimate Goal: AME 085

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

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DRAWING WITH CHILDREN WITH MONA BROOKES: AME 100

I wondered how to make this milestone episode special. When I thought back to all the episodes, there is one thread that runs through them. And that is that no matter where you teach art, how you teach art, or what stage you are at in your teaching journey...you are not alone.

We're here for you.

When I began teaching art in 2004, and had no idea how to teach kids, there was someone there for me, too. An hour after I was offered the job, I went to borders and bought Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes. I knew I struck gold. I flipped through the pages and chapter headings caught my eye...

Giving the artist the permission to unfold

Creating a Supportive Climate

Talk like an adult, with non judgment

How we see...

The book didn't focus on standards or academic tie-ins, it shared a strong philosophy on how to teach children to draw. It was about what was possible.

I read the book in a few nights and felt so confident about teaching that I literally didn't plan any lessons other than drawing with the kids for the first few weeks. That was then, and I still refer to Mona's instructions every now and again.

When we finally secured an interview time, I was giddy with excitement. I wasn't sure how the interview would go. We talked about the evolution of the book, Drawing with Children, and how it was created...the publicity, the backlash, and how it ended up a franchise. It's a fascinating story of how one idea channels into so many directions until in the end, it circles back to the origins.

I hope it inspires you to push, dream and circle back.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- How Mona Brookes began her journey teaching, and why she says her first attempt as a teacher was a "failure"

- Mona's philosophy for teaching young children to draw and how the ability to draw can be learned

- How Mona went from teaching art to branding her own methodology and selling franchises

- How technology has changed everything for Mona and her business

- Where the battle between art philosophies stems from

- How Mona is still impacting the world at the age of 80

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES:

The Sparkler's Club Waitlist

Monart Website

Monart Books

Monart Training

Pre-Order Patty's new book Draw, Paint, Sparkle

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

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Do you have a mantra that you live by each day?

As creatives, we often gravitate towards specific sayings or guideposts. And in Mary’s case, she adopts her own.

Mary Crowlie taught in a classroom for 20 years before changing paths and becoming the art teacher for 800 children in grades 1st-5th.

This was her realization of nabbing her dream job. But it was more challenging than she expected. To keep her spirits and energy up, Mary adopted a mantra that she uses to both inspire, humor and keep her radiant outlook.

I love this episode because it shines a light on an educators who is truly making a difference, yet mostly go unheard or acknowledged.  Her positive energy and years of experience really shine through in our conversation. It feels as though we were sitting across from one with a glass of Rosé!

Mary is a member of our Sparkler’s Club and was featured in July’s SPARKLE magazine. As a guest Sparkler on Art Made Easy, Mary selected a few questions to ask me. We chat about our art philosophies, the evolution of Deep Space Sparkle, what inspires our lesson plans, and art philosophies.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: 

Why Mary believes we can all do it all!

 Some of the biggest challenges she had when beginning her career as an Art Specialist 

Why teachers and other professionals are starting to see the need for integrated art

Mary’s rules when it comes to creating art

What “Product Versus Product” means to Mary

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DOWNLOAD

LINKS & RESOURCES:

The Sparkler's Club Waitlist

Patty's video that details the evolution DSS

Immaculate Heart Art Department Rules

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

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Do you want to write a book? Chances are, you do. It's a dream many of us share until you sit down and stare at an empty screen. Perhaps you wonder if you have it in you. The endurance to see it through to the end. Maybe you do and maybe you don't. This episode will share 5 action steps that I think are critical to you success as a writer.

A few years ago, I was asked to write a book. I considered the invitation, said yes and went through a process of writing a book proposal, waffling between self-publishing and traditional publishing and being both frustrated and fulfilled during the process.

This episode is for anyone who is thinking about writing a book and a few action steps to help you say yes!

Top Tips for writing a book:

1. Read what you want to write

2. Start writing

3. Don't wait for inspiration

4. Spend a lot of time on you book proposal

5. If self-publishing, join a critique group

Want to read more about my journey as a published author? Listen to AME 085 Manifesting you Ultimate Goal...how I became a published author.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- Why you should be reading what you want to write

- How to start writing and tips for improvement

- Why you shouldn't wait for inspiration to come to you

- Patty's best tips for beginning to work on your book proposal

- What are the differences between a publishing house and self-publishing

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD A FREE LESSON FROM DRAW, PAINT, SPARKLE

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Head, Heart & Hand: The Waldorf Approach to Managin Young Artists with Sally Fowler: AME 090

Manifesting You Ultimate Goal: AME 085

Teaching Art in a Remote Village in Northern India with Celia Fisher: AME 059

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Draw, Paint, Sparkle Pre-Order

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

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After volunteering in her children's classrooms teaching art, June Wood decided to take a stab at pursuing a paid position. After approaching a few schools in her district, June was offered the job as an art specialist.

If you ever wondered what opportunities are available for those who do not have a teaching credential, this episode is for you.

June and I chat about her unusual approach to managing her schedule, what projects she uses as a cornerstone for her skills and what advice she would give others looking to move into teaching art.

As a Sparkler Spotlight recipient in The Sparkler's Club, June complied three questions she wanted to ask Patty. We chat about ceramic tile murals, how to gauge how long a project will take a child and a class and how I transitioned into a paid position.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- How June began her art education journey and how she got the confidence to start teaching

- The challenges of working at different schools

- June's experiences in teaching art from a cart

- How June is able to adapt her lessons with the limited time available in each classroom

- Why there are disadvantages to introducing more choices into your curriculum

- June's advice for brand new teachers

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES

Cuteware

Davis School Arts Foundation

Ceramic Tile Mural Projects

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

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As an artist and a teacher you have the unique ability to inspire kids...to help THEM become artists, critical thinkers, decision makers and creators.

As art teachers, we strive to be completely original, to inspire passion through process and pattern, and hopefully our students will appreciate our efforts.

But if it's our goal to generate original ideas and projects that lure children away from their iPhone's and back to their sketchbooks, we have to work hard.

It's hard to develop a program that addresses the emotional, creative and academic needs of all kids. Not to mention the requirement to provide rubrics, assessments, scope & sequence and essential questions.

It can get a little crazy!

You may start to wonder WHY you became an art teacher in the first place.

I put this show together because I sense some friction. I'm in a position to hear from many, many teachers...who teach in a variety of situations and locations.

I sense that there is a desire to move towards teaching art the right way. You want to inspire kids by day but come back to your own life at night...to come home inspired from teaching. To have the emotional and physical energy to enjoy your family, your friends and fill your own creative well.

One way to find a path that allows you to teach from the best part of you is to identify what your strengths are and to hold onto them.

Perhaps one of the three types of art teachers resonates with you?

 1. Academic

 2. The Artist

 3. The Volunteer

In today's episode, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing how these three types of teachers can not only help each other but reveal how you can live your best life.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- The many reasons why we may look to a career in teaching art

- Why we strive to be original as art teachers

- The three processes in which you came to becoming a classroom art teacher

- Why we need to know our limitations and use the tools that are available for us

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

Facebook

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 Now, it's YOUR turn....WHY did you become an art teacher? 

Share your responses below...